Ben Stein: How Was Your Day? (Ben shares of his hosting a military member and family) AWESOME

The American Spectator ^ | 2/15/2005 | Ben Stein

[Former Military Chick]

Meet Corporal John Quinones, whose family I brought out to L.A. for a little vacation a few weeks ago. He was home on leave from nineteen months in Iraq after six months in Afghanistan. He's 25 years old. He was in the reserves, but he signed up for the Regular Army after 9/11. "I wanted to go to war against those people," he said.

With him came his wife, Yenncy, holding their one-year daughter Samantha. She doesn't really know her father because he's been away fighting in Iraq for the whole time she has been alive except for one week when she was born.

Yenncy also cares for their two year old, Chris, who also barely knows his father because his father has been fighting for our children, whom he does not even know.

Corporal Quinones is with the 2/7, the second battalion of the seventh brigade of the First Cavalry Division. His unit went right down the main street of Fallujah in Bradley fighting vehicles when that city was cleared of major terrorist bases a few months ago. He saw numbers of his close friends "lit up" or shot in the battle. He survived, although he has shrapnel in his neck and in his ankle from a mortar attack at about the same time.

His standard day involved working with a unit of the Iraqi National Guard to go out on patrols. He says the ones who believe in a free Iraq are among the bravest men he has ever worked with. "They don't even look for cover when the shooting starts," he says. "They just shoot it out until either they or the bad guys are dead." Out of the ten best ones in the unit, all ten have been murdered by the terrorists.

Tears came to his eyes when he told me that.

He goes out on patrol carrying a short barrel assault rifle called an M-4, a M-79 rocket launcher with high explosive rounds, a Glock pistol, and an AK-47 plated in silver he took from one of Saddam's palaces and which he will leave in Iraq. He wears almost 100 pounds of body armor in 140 degree heat. His unit is attacked with roadside bombs almost every day, hit with rocket-propelled grenades almost every day, often shelled with mortars. They go on raids in the middle of the night driving with lights out and night vision goggles, exchanging tracer fire with insurgents. His Bradley was hit with a RPG about two weeks ago. He only survived because his B-240 machine gun took the brunt of the explosion.

He says that when mortars hit or an IED goes off, "I don't think, I just do." He loves the Army and wants to stay in his whole career if he can.

His wife cries when she hears him talk about going back to Iraq after his leave, which he did on February 5.

For what he does, he gets paid $1,900 a month, which includes combat pay. He doesn't have any credit cards or a computer. He told me confidentially that when he gets up in a tree and spots terrorists laying a roadside bomb and lights them up with his B-240, he feels as if he's earning his pay. His wife cries at that, too.

What did you do today?

[Former Military Chick]

Ben had mentioned to me how wonderful it was to have this opportunity to offer family time to this service member and his family.

I tell you, Ben would move heaven and earth to help our troops. I am thankful for patriots such as Ben.

[Former Military Chick]

Ben Stein **PING** Awesome as usual, he tells of hosting a military family.

[jla]

I have always enjoyed his articles at The American Spectator.

[Former Military Chick]

Ben Stein ping

[aposiopetic]

His standard day involved working with a unit of the Iraqi National Guard to go out on patrols. He says the ones who believe in a free Iraq are among the bravest men he has ever worked with. "They don't even look for cover when the shooting starts," he says. "They just shoot it out until either they or the bad guys are dead." Out of the ten best ones in the unit, all ten have been murdered by the terrorists.

Bump for valor and freedom.

[GretchenM]

His standard day involved working with a unit of the Iraqi National Guard to go out on patrols. He says the ones who believe in a free Iraq are among the bravest men he has ever worked with. "They don't even look for cover when the shooting starts," he says. "They just shoot it out until either they or the bad guys are dead." Out of the ten best ones in the unit, all ten have been murdered by the terrorists.
Tears came to his eyes when he told me that.

[mystery-ak]

Thanks for the ping....what can I say....Im in awe of these guys and gals...

[Deetes]

God Bless the Troops !!!

[DTogo]

His wife cries when she hears him talk about going back to Iraq after his leave, which he did on February 5.

Military spouses who stay home and support their soldier's decision to fight and stick with their unit deserve just as much admiration as those in the field.

Ben Stein, telling it like it is.

[nickcarraway]

Posted Here: How Was Your Day? (Meet Corporal John Quinones, of the First Cavalry Division.) [Ben Stein]

[NationSoConceived]

His standard day involved working with a unit of the Iraqi National Guard to go out on patrols. He says the ones who believe in a free Iraq are among the bravest men he has ever worked with. "They don't even look for cover when the shooting starts," he says. "They just shoot it out until either they or the bad guys are dead." Out of the ten best ones in the unit, all ten have been murdered by the terrorists.

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die."
-Winston Churchill

Valor and freedom, yes, but I would like it better if these ten best men in the ING unit had showed some common sense, found cover, and then shot it out until the bad guys were dead. Then, God willing, these 10 good men would be around to see their country Move forward into its new day.

Don't get me wrong, I greatly respect the action these men took, but it seems so much that these men can only think to fight and die for freedom. I guess it hasn't occurred to them yet that the best thing to do is fight and live for freedom.

I guess the best summary of what I'm trying to express is this:
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." -George S. Patton

[NationSoConceived]

I still don't think we pay soldiers enough.

[aposiopetic]

Don't get me wrong, I greatly respect the action these men took, but it seems so much that these men can only think to fight and die for freedom. I guess it hasn't occurred to them yet that the best thing to do is fight and live for freedom.

You may be right, but I've got to admit I can't fathom what they have endured. Like you, I respect their willingness to lay down their lives for their countrymen.

[Fiddlstix]

[Liberty Valance]

bttt!







Rice/Stein '08

[pepsionice]

Ben Stein as VP? He'd tear your heart out with truth. Condi could close the front door and sleep in all day...cause Ben could step out onto all of the Sunday morning talk shows and clean up the mess that we currently see.

[Titan Magroyne]

Thankya for the ping to a great article.

We need more Ben Steins. A fine writer who lays it out for his readers.

[McGavin999]

I wish I were rich. I would love to take every single family and give them a vacation. There is just NO way to explain to them how grateful we are. I do what I can, but it's so small.

[ApesForEvolution]

God bless Mr. Ben Stein...a wonderful man by all accounts.

[GVnana]

Funny. I thought the same thing.